This has been a tricky offseason for the Atlanta Falcons. The most prolific offensive in the NFL didn’t have a lot of attrition with key players on that side of the ball. Pretty much the entire team looks to start training camp together. It’s an important factor, because there are no guarantees in the NFL year to year, just ask the 2016 Carolina Panthers.
The Falcons do have some challenges they’ll have to address the entire offseason. They would not be the first team to suffer a Super Bowl hangover after a devastating and historic loss. Couple that with the loss of their most important assistant coach, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and there’s real reason for concern.
Free Agents Kept
Kemel Ishmael, Safety
Matt Schaub, Quarterback
Levine Toilolo, Tight End
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Defensive Back
Free Agents Gained
Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs
Andre Roberts, Wide Receiver, formerly of the Detroit Lions
Hugh Thornton, Offensive Guard, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts
Soma Vainuku, Fullback, formerly of the Houston Texans
Free Agents Lost
Patrick DiMarco, Fullback, signed with the Buffalo Bills
Aldrick Robinson, Wide Receiver, signed with the San Francisco 49ers
Paul Worrilow, Middle Linebacker, signed with the Detroit Lions
Dwight Freeney, Defensive End, currently a free agent
2017 NFL Draft
Round 1, Takkarist McKinley, Defensive End, UCLA
Round 3, Duke Riley, Linebacker, LSU
Round 4, Sean Harlow, Offensive Guard, Oregon State
Round 5, Damontae Kazee, Cornerback, San Diego State
Round 5, Brian Hill, Running Back, Wyoming
Round 5, Eric Saubert, Tight End, Drake
Proposed Offensive Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB; Devonta Feeeman
WR: Julio Jones
WR: Mohammed Sanu
WR: Taylor Gabriel
TE: Austin Hooper
LT: Jake Matthews
RT: Ryan Schraeder
LG: Andy Livetre
RG: Wes Schweitzer
C: Alex Mack
Offensive Outlook
The Falcons still have one more season of this core group and the depth, especially at running back with Freeman and Tevin Coleman. They need to enjoy it while it lasts. The biggest change for this squad is at offensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan to Steve Sarkisian is a major downgrade on anyone’s board. He has all the same toys Shanahan used last season, so it’ll be easy to point the finger if anything falters.
Ryan is coming off an NFL MVP season and Julio Jones, though held out of most of the preseason activities up to this point, should be fully healthy once the season starts. The fact that he played with turf toe most of last season and still put up freakshow numbers and Youtube highlights is astonishing. The Falcons will still likely split time at running back between Coleman and Freeman, but don’t be surprised to see Freeman’s role expand as Coleman’s diminishes. He’s just too good to take off the field and I don’t think Sarkisian will be as creative in finding ways to produce carries for both guys.
Up front, this is still a solid offensive line. Matthews continues to improve at left tackle, minus the rogue penalty or two and as long as Sark doesn’t try any nutso scheme changes, they should be fine. The Falcons even added some more depth in free agency and the draft.
Proposed Defensive Starters
DE: Brooks Reed
DE: Vic Beasley
DT: Dontari Poe
DT: Grady Jarrett
OLB: De’Vondre Campbell
OLB: Duke Riley
MLB: Deion Jones
CB: Robert Alford
CB: Desmond Trufant
FS: Keanu Neal
SS: Ricardo Allen
Defensive Outlook
This is an improved unit than last year’s Super Bowl squad that squandered a 28-3 lead in the second half. Dontari Poe is a significant upgrade on the interior of the line and Duke Riley, if he can stay healthy, should have an immediate impact as a rookie at linebacker. Riley did play a full season last year for the Florida Gators and hopefully with some pro-level training his injury issues will be a thing of the past. He’ll have to replace the departed Paul Worrilow who, like Deion Jones, was one of the most underrated players in the NFL
Vic Beasley finally blast onto the scene last season with 15.5 sacks. With the addition of Poe up front, Beasley should see a lot of the same match ups this season. If offensive lines try to move too much his way, they’ll just be opening up a bull rush on the inside. Rookie Takkarist McKinley will open the season backing up Brooks Reed, but don’t be surprised to see McKinley and Beasley bearing down on quarterbacks full time together by October.
The biggest addition from that Super Bowl unit is the return of Desmond Trufant. He’s one of the top corners in the game and missed the second half of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. Trufant, along with Allen, Neal and Alford are a monster defensive backfield, especially when you add in nickleback Brian Poole who accounted for 58 tackles, two fumble recoveries, 10 passes defended and a pick himself. This crew makes their own southeastern version of the Legion of Boom.
Grade: B+
The Falcons kept their team together, something not every Super Bowl team can do. The only reason Atlanta doesn’t get an “A” is the addition of Sarkisian at offensive coordinator. He has a lot to prove if he’s going to be a legitimate successor to Kyle Shanahan.
O/U wins: 10.5
Preseason Schedule
Week 1: at Miami Dolphins
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3: Arizona Cardinals
Week 4: Jacksonville Jaguars
Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Week 2: Green Bay Packers
Key test: The Falcons beat the Packers pretty thoroughly in the NFC Championship game last season. If they can come anywhere close to that performance in this game, at home, they can probably put fears of a Super Bowl hangover behind them.
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
Week 4: Buffalo Bills
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Miami Dolphins
Week 7: at New England Patriots
Key Test: How much do the Falcons want to show they robbed themselves in the Super Bowl. This is a major revenge game and one where each team could come in unbeaten.
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 9: at Carolina Panthers
Week 10: Dallas Cowboys
Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 13: Minnesota Vikings
Week 14: New Orleans Saints
Week 15: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 16: at New Orleans Saints
Week 17: Carolina Panthers
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